Reared in the faith of the republican party, Mr. McCall has seen no cause to change his allegiance since arriving at adult age, for mature judgment sanctions that course, and he therefore gives to it stalwart support. In 1896 he served as chairman of the county central committee. When but twenty-one years of age he was elected township clerk and filled the position for a term–his first political office. He has also been a member of the Nevada school board. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, holding membership in Excalibur Commandery, K. T., at Boone, and is a charter member of Za-ga-zig Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Des Moines. His connections with the blue lodge and chapter are at Nevada and he also belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge in Nevada. He has a very wide acquaintance in the state which has always been his home, and his substantial qualities have won for him the high and enduring regard of many friends. He is recognized as a man true to every trust reposed in him, and whether in office or out of it he displays the qualities of public-spirited citizenship in his loyalty to the general good.
O. M. Johnson.
No obstacles seem too great for some indomitable spirits to overcome and the life histories of many men in this work indicate that a young man may attain practically any position in the business world he may desire provided he thoroughly prepares himself and steadfastly perseveres. O. M. Johnson, whose name stands at the head of this sketch, came to America from a foreign land a poor boy; today he has attained a handsome competence and is one of the honored men of Story county, who represent the best citizenship. He was born in Norway, February 25, 1850, son of John and Rachel (Halverson) Johnson, both of whom passed their entire lives in Norway.
O. M. Johnson acquired his early education in the schools of his native land and also had the advantage of one year's attendance at Augsburg School at Minneapolis, Minnesota. Being ambitious as a boy to attain an honorable place in life even though he should be obliged to take up his home among strangers, he came to America when sixteen years of age. After spending one year in La Salle county, Illinois, he was attracted to Story county, Iowa, where he worked for two or three years as a farm laborer, at the same time becoming acquainted with the language and customs of the country. In 1871 he secured a position with Baldwin & Maxwell, merchants of Cambridge, and for about four years drove a team for that firm. However, he was on the lookout for a more promising position, which proved to be a clerkship in the store of J. D. Brizley, of Cambridge, in which position he continued for about five years, then going to Sheldahl as clerk in the store of Nelson & Ersland for two years. Returning to